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City Comparison · 2026

Swansea vs Wigan 2026

Wales
Swansea
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo
Real Take-Home £23,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 5%
VS
Greater Manchester
Wigan
Median Salary £28,000
Cost of Living 61/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £620/mo
Real Take-Home £22,400/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 5.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Swansea
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Wigan
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Swansea
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Wigan
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Swansea
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Swansea
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Swansea vs Wigan

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

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Wigan

Wigan is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing and logistics sectors and very affordable living costs.

Full Wigan Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Wigan

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